Submarine fleet a major concern, Faulkner admits

Defence Minister John Faulkner has conceded that the state of the Navy's $6 billion Collins Class submarines is a "major concern".

A report in The Australian newpaper today says the six submarines face serious operational restrictions because of a multitude of mechanical problems.

Senator Faulkner has told a Senate Estimates committee that of the three submarines that are crewed, two are undergoing routine maintenance which "provides various levels of availability" and another is with the manufacturer with "urgent defects" that are being repaired.

The other three are due for major overhauls and refurbishment by their manufacturer ASC.

Senator Faulkner said the Government placed a "high priority" on submarine capability and operational availability.

"Significant improvement to submarine availability is vital for the submarine capability and particularly for Navy's ability to grow the submarine work force," he said.

"While the current situation regarding submarine availability is far from ideal, I would say and stress with the committee that the timely maintenance and repair of submarines obviously is vitally important."

He told the committee that he has directed the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) to review all aspects of submarine availability and changes are being implemented.

There will now be increased oversight by DMO and senior Navy personnel, he said.

The report in the Australian today also claimed that some tradesmen working on the submarines were "idle" for much of their time.

But Senator Faulkner says this is not the case.

"I'd like to assure the committee that crews are not sitting idly by. They are undertaking planned training activities to prepare for future employment it the submarine force," he said.

Since they were purchased by the then Labor government, the Collins class submarines have faced a series of problems and defects.

In the Defence white paper released earlier this year the Government committed to doubling its submarine fleet.

Opposition Defence spokesman Senator David Johnston says the fleet is close to collapse.

"It is an extreme embarrassment for the Government and John Faulkner doesn't want to be seen to be covering anything up so he's had to put the issue up on the table and say yes, we have a problem," he said.

Editor's note: This story originally stated that the Collins class submarines were purchased by the Howard government. This has since been corrected.